Buds' Easter blow-out or simply: Martha Stewart would have a stroke

April 10, 2009 - Taste Buds

RUMOR HAS it that the Easter Bunny will be hopping down the proverbial trail this weekend bringing baskets full of goodies to all the little good girls and boys.

Whoopee!

The Buds are definitely pro candy and really can’t wait to see what he brings us - assuming we fall into the good little girl category but thinking of the holiday does bring back memories of when we were kids and looking forward to putting ourselves into a sugar coma the likes of which hadn’t been seen since Halloween!

Bud Tricia fondly remembers her mother taking out the blow-up bunny each year. This three foot gem was made of pink plastic and would not have been very convincing as an actual bunny if it weren’t for her mother’s secret weapon - cotton balls!

Yep, that woman would spend hours covering the inflatable hare in cotton balls because nothing says, “Look there’s a real bunny” like a big old inflatable animal, Elmer’s glue and cotton balls.

Martha Stewart she wasn’t!

Still, it’s better than that whacked out Easter decorating tradition where people hang plastic eggs from the tree limbs in their front yards. What’s that about? Eggs do not grow on trees, people!

Thank God Bud Em’s family has an artistic bent - especially when it comes to decorating for Easter!

Take for example her eldest brother -- we’ll call him “Rich” -- who always had a mischievous streak.

No one in Em’s family will forget the infamous “Devil Egg” incident.

“Rich” wrote the word “devil” on an Easter egg using the magic clear crayon, then let it in stew in every color for about an hour.

When he proudly displayed the evil egg, it was a putrid shade of brownish/greenish/rust color.

Their mother - a devout Christian - WENT OFF because of the sacrilege.

Yep, big brother was in big trouble that day!

She was right about Metallica - it IS the devil’s music.

One weird tradition Bud Tricia’s family does carry on to this day is their annual Mother’s Day Easter Egg Hunt.

It all started when the weather was too bad for an egg hunt on Easter so it was postponed until Mother’s Day when the entire family would be together again. Weird but fitting as we all start as eggs in our mother’s wombs albeit not the plastic, candy filled kind!

Here’s a news flash for ya!

The Buds recently received “I’m Tired of the Economy” bracelets in the mail! We’ve been wearing them around as our little protest about the state of things. We’re tired of hearing all the bad news and of being broke ourselves.

The “I’m Tired of...” campaign was launched several months ago by brother and sister team, Dan Hoffman and Carrie Pollare, to fight against the world’s issues that we are all tired of, like animal cruelty, world hunger, global warming, cancer, diabetes and so on. The fashionable bracelets are made from recycled tires and metals, creating a fun play on the word, tired, and cost just $10, so anyone can afford them. Then half the sale ($5) from each one is donated to charities the company is aligned with that support each cause.

The “I’m Tired of The Economy” bracelet can be purchased at www.ImTiredOnline.com, as well as bracelets supporting other causes.

And ...

You will be happy to know chivalry is alive and well - at least in Martins Ferry.

Bud Em was recently getting lunch at the Martins Ferry Subway.

While improperly carrying her beverage, the vessel slipped from her hands causing a pretty good sized mess.

About a half dozen young men were in line to order and witnessed the unfortunate event.

Recognizing how embarrassed Em already was, they were gracious enough not to laugh. To Em’s delight, they actually sprang into action and cleaned up the mess!

One gentleman quickly procured a stack of napkins and began to sop up the mess while another set up the wet floor sign.

Bud Em didn’t have to lift a finger! She would like to give a shout out to the kind gentlemen. Good work men!

This week’s recipe comes from Theresa Ady of Cameron and will help you get some use from you leftover Easter ham!